Bea Clark, Project Consultant
Your efforts are appreciated! This project would not have been possible without the financial support of the Employment Ontario Network Development Fund and the resources and support of:
Thank you all very much for your commitment to the clients and students you serve so well.
There are two major objectives of this project. The first is to continue and expand the information sharing and development of effective internal partnerships which has begun within the colleges. The second objective is to address the need identified by participants at both individual and regional training events for tools and processes which will lead t o the development of a clear and documented internal college referral process for EO clients.
The first objective will be achieved by once again organizing and facilitating individual college events followed by regional conferences. The Project Consultant in consultation with the Advisory Committee will develop common agendas and consolidate and report on the results of these meetings. An important part of these agendas will be follow up on the progress of the action items identified by each college at the 2007-2008 events. Three bulletins which will include program updates, innovative practices and client and program success stories will be distributed. We will also develop an appropriate provincial electronic meeting place where staff at all colleges can share ideas, ask questions and access information from one another.
The second objective is to focus on the development of the following two resources. The first is a college self assessment tool in the form of a checklist intended to help colleges determine where they are now in terms of internal connections to support EO clients. This checklist will provide the basis to identify both next steps and long term objectives. It will also provide a common template for assessing and reporting on progress. As part of this checklist, each college’s website will be examined to determine how accessible information about Job Connect, Apprenticeship and EAS programs is for potential clients. We will make recommendations about best practices which will inform discussions internally.
The second tool is the development and documentation of a comprehensive internal referral process which can be implemented at each college. It will identify when referrals and interventions should take place, how to get started, guidelines for interaction, whom to contact and how to track results. This tool has been variously described as a pathway, road map, flowchart or internal process intended to inform both deliverers and clients. It will be developed in consultation with all colleges, evaluated based on a pilot and revised according to the results of this pilot. It will provide a consistent process while allowing for individual college delivery environments. At those colleges which do not deliver Job Connect, an expanded template will be provided to engage community Job Connect providers in the process. This template could be expanded to form the basis of a community referral process.
If funded, the project will begin in December, 2008 and conclude in June 2009.
STAY TUNED!